Pursuit of wealth

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas

May I add a few words to the ongoing discussion on materialism vis-a-vis

spiritualism?

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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For our Siddhantam, it is not 'how much' one earns that matters,

but 'how' one earns it.

 

Wealth accumulated through Dharmic means is encouraged but not those secured

through stealing, cheating, falsehood and the like. So long as gullible,

credulous folk

are around, it would not be difficult for a trickster to rip them off and

appear to prosper. But, sooner or later he will fall by his own tricks. He is

sure to leave some traces which would haul him up and punish him for all his

misdeeds.

 

Secondly, it is equally important for Hinduism how the wealth accumulated is

expended -

whether on the poor and the needy or for a social cause or whether it is

siphoned off to evil purposes. A man who enjoys all his wealth for himself

without sharing with the poor and needy is also deemed a thief.

 

There is a saying in Tamil "Selvarku Azhagu Sezhunkilai Thangutal"* meaning

that the wealthy should support financially their less fortunate kith and

kin.

 

You would have heard of the motivational message sold through plaques on

'What money can buy' - to reveal that while money is ncessary, it is not the

'be all and end all' of life.It is worth repeating and remembering -

MONEY WILL BUY -

"A bed but not Sleep

Books but not Brains

Food but not Appetite

Finery but not Beauty

A house but not a Home

Medicine but not Health

Luxury but not Culture

Amusement but not Happiness

A crucifix but not a Saviour

A church pen but not Heaven"

 

Money should be like our footwear. If it is too big it would not fit; nor

would it fit

if it is too small. It should be of just that size that would fit your foot

comfortably.

So also, money should neither be more nor less than what would be absolutely

necessary for carrying on life without pangs and without getting into debts.

Anything less would be miserable; Anything more would spoil you.

 

We cannot rise to the level of Sri Vedanta Desika who spurned riches in his

Vairaghya Panchakam, in which he had conveyed his total detachment to worldly

benefits, his attitude of renunciation. We should at least learn to earn

and spend

on the lines indicated by the Sastras.

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